richellemead-vampireacademy01-vampireacademy-110824015328-phpapp02

Twenty-Four
IN SPITE OF ALL THE training I'd received, all the lessons on Strigoi habits and how to
defend against them, I'd never ever actually seen one. It was scarier than I'd expected.
This time, when she swung at me again, I was ready. Sort of. I dodged back, slipping out of
reach, wondering what chance I had. I remembered Dimitri's joke about the mall. No silver
stake. Nothing to cut her head off with. No way to set her on fire. Running seemed like the best
option after all, but she was blocking my way.
Feeling useless, I simply backed down the hall as she advanced on me, her movements far more
graceful than they'd ever been in life.
Then, also faster than she'd ever moved in life, she leapt out, grabbed me, and slammed my
head against the wall. Pain exploded in my skull, and I felt pretty sure that was blood I tasted in
the back of my mouth. Frantically, I fought against her, trying to mount some kind of defense,
but it was like fighting Dimitri on crack.
"My dear," murmured Victor, "try not to kill her if you don't have to. We might be able to use
her later.”
Natalie paused in her attack, giving me a moment to back up, but she never took her cold eyes
off me. "I'll try not to.”
There was a skeptical tone in her voice. "Get out of here now. I'll meet you there when I'm
done.”
"I can't believe you!" I yelled after him. "You got your own daughter to turn Strigoi?”
"A last resort. A necessary sacrifice made for the greater good. Natalie understands." He left.